ESSA/ESSER Updates

Please sign up for our Fall and Spring Trainings that will include an EDGAR Updates Training with Cory Green, TEA Deputy Commissioner and a Parent & Family Engagement Regional Cluster Meeting with the PFE Statewide Initiative! Click on the button below to access all training information including registration links.

Your LEA just received a GovDelivery email from TEA communicating the launch of Phase I of the USDE ESSER Annual Report. To allow LEAs more time to complete the ESSER Annual Report, TEA will open the report in two phases this year. The only reports included in Phase 1 are the CrossAct report and the Schools Report. These reports are due January 15, 2025. Phase 2, which are the actual expenditure reports, will be released in November and are due in March. Please click on the link below to access information regarding both phases of the report.

Many of you have spent and drawn down the entirety of your ESSER III funds. However, if you haven't, please pay close attention to the following information.

• ESSER III officially ends on September 30, 2024. Therefore, this is the last day that you are able to code any expenses to fund 282. As a reminder, spending/obligating/coding funds to ESSER III is not the same as “drawing down" the funds.
• IF you are not able to spend all of your ESSER III funds by September 30, 2024, you may be eligible to apply for an ESSER III Liquidation Extension. However, this will significantly increase your reporting burden and not all spending activities will qualify for this extension. In other words, this option would be extremely cumbersome and in most cases, would not be a good decision for your district.

Just to summarize, it is extremely important to begin making your final ESSER III drawdowns as soon as possible and spend and DRAWDOWN ALL your money before September 30, 2024!

We so appreciate all you do and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!

Deadlines

9/3/24 - 2024-2025 ESSA Application Deadline

9/3/24 - Year 5 USDE ESSER Report (Phase 1) opens; due 1/15/25

9/30/24 - ESSA Compliance Report Deadline

9/30/24 - RLIS Compliance Report Deadline (if applicable)

9/30/24 - Private/Non-Profit Affirmation of Consultations Due in the Smartsheet WorkApp

11/1/24 - Year 5 USDE ESSER Report (Phase 2) opens; due 3/15/25

Reminders

• Review/Implementation of District/Campus Improvement Plans in accordance with district planning process.
• Identify participation with TEA's Substitute System of Time and Effort Reporting in the Smartsheet WorkApp.

Each program under the 2023-2024 ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application has a program compliance report. Additionally, the 2023-2024 Rural and Low-Income Schools Grant program compliance report is required for LEAs that applied for funding in the 2023-2024 grant year. All LEAs that applied for funding on their own, as fiscal agents, or as members of shared services arrangements in the 2023-2024 grant year are required to complete applicable compliance reports.

Both reports are due 9/30/24! Please visit the TEA's Compliance Report Page for helpful submission information.

If you are an ACE district, your consultant will be contacting you to schedule time to assist you with one or both of the reports.

The federal time-and-effort reporting requirement comes from the US Department of Education’s (USDE's) Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). EDGAR requires employees who work on multiple activities or cost objectives to document their time and effort in one of two ways:

• By meeting the characteristics in 2 CFR 200.430(i) or
• Through an approved "substitute system."

Completing, submitting, and maintaining monthly documentation can be cumbersome for employees and local educational agencies (LEAs). To reduce that burden, the USDE has approved a substitute system. Under the substitute system, employees may submit semiannual certifications instead of monthly PARs.

For a additional information, a current list of approved LEAs and a link to the certification form, click on the button below.

• 2 CFR §200.320 officially sets the micro-purchase threshold at $10,000 in the aggregate across all federal grant programs for the fiscal or grant year. It also allows the LEA to annually self-certify a higher micro-purchase threshold of up to $50,000 if the LEA:

• is a low-risk auditee for their most recent federal audit; or

• conducts an annual internal risk assessment to identify, mitigate, and manage financial risk.

• The LEA must determine the local threshold based on internal controls, risk, and documented procedures. Note: Due to state Financial Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG) rules, the LEA may only self-certify a threshold up to $49,999.
• LEAs may certify by grant year (July 1-June 30) or by the LEA’s fiscal year. The self-certification must be submitted to TEA through the EDGAR Forms Smartsheet Workapp by October 1 to be retroactive back to the start of the grant/fiscal year. Self-certifications submitted to TEA after October 1 of the current grant/fiscal year will not go into effect until the date it is submitted to TEA and any procurements started prior to the submission date must adhere to the standard $10,000 micro-purchase threshold.

The 2024-2025 PNP Affirmation of Consultation form is available for download on TEA's ESSA Private School Equitable Services webpage.

• The 2024-2025 PNP Affirmation of Consultation form is also available for download on ESC 20 Title I, Capacity Building Initiative webpage.
• LEAs should not submit 2024-2025 PNP Affirmations through TEA’s TEAL ESSA Reports system.
• 2024-2025 PNP Affirmation of Consultation forms will be due in the new FPC PNP Affirmation WorkApp Smartsheet no later than September 30, 2024.
• The new FPC PNP Affirmation WorkApp Instructions will tentatively be posted for 2024-2025 LEA Affirmation submissions by August 15, 2024.

Statewide 2024-2025 PNP Affirmation WorkApp training and Office Hour sessions:

• PNP Affirmation WorkApp Training Session, August 7, 2024 (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.) – revised date
• Voiced-Over presentation and resources will be posted on the TEA ESSA PNP webpage, once available, tentatively August 15.
• PNP Affirmation Office Hours, August 28 (1 p.m. – 2 p.m.)
• PNP Affirmation Office Hours, September 24 (9 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)

LEAs that received an “Improvement Needed” status during 23-24 Random Validations are required to resubmit documentation showing evidence of compliance for the 2024-2025 year by September 30, 2024. LEAs required to resubmit documentation were sent a reminder email via the Smartsheet WorkApp system on July 29, 2024. ESC WorkApp communication list contacts were copied on the emails. In the email, LEAs received a link to access the timeline and documentation submission instructions. The program-specific handbooks can be found on the FPC RV Webpage. LEAs will be submitting documentation using the FPC Program Monitoring Validations WorkApp system. Please reach out to Monica Diaz for information on Random Validation resubmissions.

2024-25 Program Monitoring Statewide Virtual Session: Register NOW!

On 10/2/24, the TEA Federal Program Compliance Division will provide information related to the LEA programmatic monitoring process the Division will use in 2024-2025. Participants will learn about the parameters for LEA selection, the programs included in the monitoring process, and the requirements selected for documentation review. Resources will be shared, and time will be allotted for questions.

Please register now for this very important and informative session: 2024-2025 Program Monitoring Validations Process Virtual Statewide Training

The Department of Grant Compliance and Administration conducts an Annual Federal Fiscal Risk Assessment of sub-recipients to evaluate and mitigate the risk of non-compliance as required by federal grant regulations. Based on the outcome of the annual risk assessment, sub-recipients are assigned a risk status of low, medium, or high, which is evaluated annually. The risk level is primarily utilized to determine the agency’s fiscal monitoring plan for federal grant programs. Note that TEA monitors LEAs from all risk levels.

To access your district's risk assessment, you need access to your LEA's Smartsheet WorkApp:

1. Access the TEA Smartsheet WorkApp site.
2. Select Risk Assessment WorkApp.
3. Select LEA Name and CDN when the 2024-2025 GCA Risk Assessment page displays.
4. Click on the Attachments link and click on the LEA RA Report.pdf title.
5. The report will download to your computer's download folder.
6. Click on the downloaded report to view your 2024-2025 LEA Risk Assessment Status Designation Report.
7. Each LEA report includes points assigned by indicator, total risk assessment score, and risk status designation for 2024-2025.

The FY19-FY24 Risk Status Designation Report is also accessible by following the steps above. As new reports are published, they will also be added to the navigation pane for easy access and review, ensuring that all relevant information is readily available for LEAs.

School district leaders, please use the information below to invite parents of your school children to this event, so they can gain some valuable insight.

Join the Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative and the CoolSpeak team for this Parent Series. This is a FREE online training where valuable parenting experience can be gained while in the comfort of your home. Space is limited so register early at www.r16.us/parentlearning

When: September 26th at 6:00 PM

Where: Zoom - virtual platform accessed via computer from the comfort of your home

Where can I find more information? See the flyer below or visit the PFE website.

This professional development opportunity will be focused on providing educators with essential communication strategies for fostering effective partnerships with parents and families. By understanding biases and adopting a growth mindset, educators can establish a culture where strong, positive relationships create a supportive learning environment for every student.

The course will cover effective communication techniques, both verbal and written, and explore the importance of creating a collaborative culture through great customer service.

Additionally, it delves into planning strategies to ensure family engagement is integrated into the MTSS framework, building family efficacy, and proactively addressing discipline issues.

This interactive session is designed to empower classroom teachers, parent liaisons, and administrators to enhance communication skills to foster positive, productive relationships with parents and families. Take this training back to your campus to benefit the entire school community.

When?

February 25, 2025 - 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Where?

ESC Region 17 ~1111West Loop 289 ~ Lubbock

More Info?

Visit the PFE Statewide Initiative Website or see the flyer below!

To register click here!

This new website is designed to support districts in empowering parents to navigate the school system with ease. Explore a wealth of resources, including informative newsletters, best practice expos, and up-to-date conference information. Whether you're seeking guidance, staying informed, or looking for ways to engage with the educational community, this website has it all.

Click on the image below to check it out!

Click on the image below for more information!

First, the Federal Program Planner is a monthly planner has activities and reminders to be considered across multiple programs. It is available as a full page or two page per sheet download. The planner is also set up as a fillable document that you can type into directly and save!

Second, the Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program Campus Administrator Toolkit is also available for download! This is a great tool for campus administrators who are responsible for the implementation of their Title I program at the campus level.

Both items are available to download by clicking the links above. You can also visit the Title I Capacity Building Statewide Initiative website for more resources and information!

In order to help schools implement compliant programs, TEA has published frequently asked questions for various program areas.

ESSA:

• Title I-A FAQ (11/22/22)
• Title II-A FAQ (10/26/22)
• Title IV-A FAQ (11/01/22)
• ESSA Private Nonprofit Equitable Services (07/22)

ESSER:

• ESSER FAQ
• ESSER Side-by-Side Comparison